diff --git a/ckanext/harvest/queue.py b/ckanext/harvest/queue.py
index e68e960..dfe1518 100644
--- a/ckanext/harvest/queue.py
+++ b/ckanext/harvest/queue.py
@@ -3,12 +3,13 @@ import datetime
 import json
 
 import pika
+import sqlalchemy
 
 from ckan.lib.base import config
 from ckan.plugins import PluginImplementations
 from ckan import model
 
-from ckanext.harvest.model import HarvestJob, HarvestObject,HarvestGatherError
+from ckanext.harvest.model import HarvestJob, HarvestObject, HarvestGatherError
 from ckanext.harvest.interfaces import IHarvester
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -221,8 +222,18 @@ def gather_callback(channel, method, header, body):
     # Get a publisher for the fetch queue
     publisher = get_fetch_publisher()
 
-    job = HarvestJob.get(id)
-
+    try:
+        job = HarvestJob.get(id)
+    except sqlalchemy.exc.OperationalError, e:
+        # Occasionally we see: sqlalchemy.exc.OperationalError
+        # "SSL connection has been closed unexpectedly"
+        log.exception(e)
+        log.error('Connection Error during gather of job %s: %r %r',
+                  id, e, e.args)
+        # By not sending the ack, it will be retried later.
+        # Try to clear the issue with a remove.
+        model.Session.remove()
+        return
     if not job:
         log.error('Harvest job does not exist: %s' % id)
         channel.basic_ack(method.delivery_tag)
@@ -313,7 +324,18 @@ def fetch_callback(channel, method, header, body):
         channel.basic_ack(method.delivery_tag)
         return False
 
-    obj = HarvestObject.get(id)
+    try:
+        obj = HarvestObject.get(id)
+    except sqlalchemy.exc.OperationalError, e:
+        # Occasionally we see: sqlalchemy.exc.OperationalError
+        # "SSL connection has been closed unexpectedly"
+        log.exception(e)
+        log.error('Connection Error during gather of harvest object %s: %r %r',
+                  id, e, e.args)
+        # By not sending the ack, it will be retried later.
+        # Try to clear the issue with a remove.
+        model.Session.remove()
+        return
     if not obj:
         log.error('Harvest object does not exist: %s' % id)
         channel.basic_ack(method.delivery_tag)